Cardiology

Looking after your heart

What is the heart and how it works?
The heart is a vital organ made of muscle tissue and shaped like a clenched fist. The heart works like a pump and beats 100,000 times a day. The heart has two sides, separated by an inner wall called the septum. The right side of the heart pumps blood to the lungs to pick up oxygen. The left side of the heart receives the oxygen-rich blood from the lungs and pumps it to the body. The heart is an organ which never rests and therefore requires a lot of blood and oxygen to maintain normal function. The blood vessels which supply the heart are the coronary arteries.
What is coronary heart disease?  
Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a disease in which a waxy substance called plaque builds up inside the coronary arteries. These arteries supply oxygen-rich blood to heart muscle. When plaque builds up in the arteries, the condition is called atherosclerosis. Atherosclerotic changes of the blood vessels can cause very serious conditions like chest pain or angina, heart attack, heart failure etc.
What are the risk factors for heart disease?
Smoking
Elevated lipid levels in the blood
Hypertension
Obesity
Diabetes
Sedentary Life Style
Family history of heart disease
What are the symptoms of
angina?
There patient with angina will complain of severe compressive type of chest pain which radiates to the shoulder, back, arms, neck or jaw. Angina is usually experienced during physical activities or mental stress. The pain may disappear within 10-15 minutes. The pain of angina usually disappears with rest or drugs like glyceryl trinitrate.
How does heart attack present itself?
Heart attack usually presents with pain similar to angina but the pain is usually more severe and lasts longer. The pain is also accompanied by sweating, headache, nausea and breathlessness. Heart attack may occasionally mimic the physical complains of upper abdominal pain and burning sensation. Heart attack can occur at any time even at rest. If the chief complain of chest pain lasts more then 15 minutes a diagnosis of heart attack is more likely then angina. The chest pain is not completely alleviated by rest or glyceryl trinitrate.
How can we alleviate the risks of heart failure?
1) Healthy diet is healthy living. A diet deficient in red meat, spicy and fatty foods but containing more veggies is known to decrease morbidity and mortality in patients with heart disease.
2) Physical exercise is also known to have long time benefits in ischemic heart disease.
3) Hypertension and diabetes must be controlled
4) Smoking cessation is a must.
5) Making healthy lifestyle changes and taking medication regularly is vital.
What is heart failure?
A patient is said to have heart failure if the person’s heart is incapable of pumping adequate amounts of oxygen and blood to maintain optimum bodily functions.
What are the symptoms of heart failure?
Heart failure presents with:
excessive fatigability
breathlessness
swelling of limbs
How is heart disease diagnosed?
Doctors are likely to suspect heart disease if and when they find abnormalities in the following:  
Abnormal rhythm or rate of pulse and heart rate
Abnormal blood pressure
readings
If the tissues of the lungs or the feet seem water logged or oedematous on physical examination
Abnormal quality of heart sounds
If veins of the neck look engorged or the blood pressure of the neck veins is elevated  
Some healthy eating habits:
 A balanced diet is essential for optimum cardiac functioning:
The diet should have fruits and vegetables
Fatty foods should be avoided after the forties and fifties
Salt restriction is helpful
Alcohol and smoking should also be avoided
Are mental problems related to heart diseases?
Depression and stress are known to trigger cardiac catastrophes. It is good to adapt to healthy practices for those who have a very stressful lifestyle.
Exercises like walking, swimming, cycling help to fight stress
Yoga is known to help people reach a more peaceful state of mind
Prayers are beneficial as well
Deep breathing exercises are equally helpful in overcoming stress and anxiety.
Some information before starting exercises:
If you have been diagnosed as a patient of heart disease it is good to seek medical advice before starting exercises as strenuous effort in conditions like uncontrolled hypertension is known to exacerbate cardiac illness.
It is good to start any routine exercise at first very slowly over a period of minutes before settling into normal rhythm.
If there is intense headache, vertigo or exhaustion during or before the work out, one must stop immediately.
If the patient has angina it is essential for the patient to keep glyceryl trinitrate (tablet or spray )close by, in case the physical routine precipitates chest pain.
Courtesy: Sir William Beveridge Foundation.
The writer can be reached at [email protected]

 

 

Cardiology

Looking after your heart What is the heart and how it works? The heart is a vital organ made of muscle tissue and shaped like a clenched fist. The heart works like a pump and beats 100,000 times a day. The heart has two sides, separated by an inner wall called the septum. The right side of the heart pumps blood to the lungs to pick up oxygen. The left side of the heart receives the oxygen-rich blood from the lungs and pumps it to the body. The heart is an organ which never rests and therefore requires a lot of blood and oxygen to maintain normal function. The blood vessels which supply the heart are the coronary arteries. What is coronary heart disease? Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a disease in which a waxy substance called plaque builds up inside the coronary arteries. These arteries supply oxygen-rich blood to heart muscle. When plaque builds up in the arteries, the condition is called atherosclerosis. Atherosclerotic changes of the blood vessels can cause very serious conditions like chest pain or angina, heart attack, heart failure etc. What are the risk factors for heart disease? Smoking Elevated lipid levels in the blood Hypertension Obesity Diabetes Sedentary Life Style Family history of heart disease What are the symptoms of angina? There patient with angina will complain of severe compressive type of chest pain which radiates to the shoulder, back, arms, neck or jaw. Angina is usually experienced during physical activities or mental stress. The pain may disappear within 10-15 minutes. The pain of angina usually disappears with rest or drugs like glyceryl trinitrate. How does heart attack present itself? Heart attack usually presents with pain similar to angina but the pain is usually more severe and lasts longer. The pain is also accompanied by sweating, headache, nausea and breathlessness. Heart attack may occasionally mimic the physical complains of upper abdominal pain and burning sensation. Heart attack can occur at any time even at rest. If the chief complain of chest pain lasts more then 15 minutes a diagnosis of heart attack is more likely then angina. The chest pain is not completely alleviated by rest or glyceryl trinitrate. How can we alleviate the risks of heart failure? 1) Healthy diet is healthy living. A diet deficient in red meat, spicy and fatty foods but containing more veggies is known to decrease morbidity and mortality in patients with heart disease. 2) Physical exercise is also known to have long time benefits in ischemic heart disease. 3) Hypertension and diabetes must be controlled 4) Smoking cessation is a must. 5) Making healthy lifestyle changes and taking medication regularly is vital. What is heart failure? A patient is said to have heart failure if the persons heart is incapable of pumping adequate amounts of oxygen and blood to maintain optimum bodily functions. What are the symptoms of heart failure? Heart failure presents with: excessive fatigability breathlessness swelling of limbs How is heart disease diagnosed? Doctors are likely to suspect heart disease if and when they find abnormalities in the following: Abnormal rhythm or rate of pulse and heart rate Abnormal blood pressure readings If the tissues of the lungs or the feet seem water logged or oedematous on physical examination Abnormal quality of heart sounds If veins of the neck look engorged or the blood pressure of the neck veins is elevated Some healthy eating habits: A balanced diet is essential for optimum cardiac functioning: The diet should have fruits and vegetables Fatty foods should be avoided after the forties and fifties Salt restriction is helpful Alcohol and smoking should also be avoided Are mental problems related to heart diseases? Depression and stress are known to trigger cardiac catastrophes. It is good to adapt to healthy practices for those who have a very stressful lifestyle. Exercises like walking, swimming, cycling help to fight stress Yoga is known to help people reach a more peaceful state of mind Prayers are beneficial as well Deep breathing exercises are equally helpful in overcoming stress and anxiety. Some information before starting exercises: If you have been diagnosed as a patient of heart disease it is good to seek medical advice before starting exercises as strenuous effort in conditions like uncontrolled hypertension is known to exacerbate cardiac illness. It is good to start any routine exercise at first very slowly over a period of minutes before settling into normal rhythm. If there is intense headache, vertigo or exhaustion during or before the work out, one must stop immediately. If the patient has angina it is essential for the patient to keep glyceryl trinitrate (tablet or spray )close by, in case the physical routine precipitates chest pain. Courtesy: Sir William Beveridge Foundation. The writer can be reached at [email protected]